Game carrier



JIM

Jqly 7, 1959 CO5 2,893,748

GAME CARRIER Filed June 18, 1956 2 SheetsSheet 1 INVENTOR.

irmwu July 7, 1959 F. B. coE 2,893,748

GAME CARRIER Filed June 18, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 102 If} I 6' J1.

lg. z? 104 I N EN TOR 1/6 BYGQMMQW United States Patent 2,893,748GAMECARRIER :Frank BLGoe, Los. Angeles, :Calif.

Application June 18,1956, SerialNo. 592,030

-2Claims. (Cl. 280-475) This invention relates to a, game carrier and,more par- 1ticularly,'to.a game carrier which is'light in weight and lowin cost and which can be readilypacked by .thehunter into theiback-woodswithout materiallyburdening him during the trip into the woods insearchof game.

'Theproblemcf bringinggame out of the Woods after the game has beenshot'becomes a more serious one as hunters resort to areas whicharequiteremotefrom roads on which their cars are parkedor on which other forms.of transportation ,may be .reached. The customary method of slingingthe carcass .of the game froma sapling -.or other pole suspended betweenthe shoulders of two hunters is .an exhausting one, particularly whenlong distancesmust becovered.

Furthermore, when the hunter is hunting alone, the problem of removingthe game becomes an even more serious one. .Attemptsbave been madetoprovide various types or collapsible game .carts, but -the .primaryfactors militating against the widespread use.and.adoption of such carts.byhunters have been .the .relativelyhigh cost thereof and .therelatively bulkynatureof said carts even {in the .collapsed condition.The size of suchcarts in collapsed condition :is suchas to .prevent thehunter from readily packing such carts long distances in search of game.and thus the conventional practices-of packing the .game out onsaplings or on .the back of the hunter are still .relied upon by .mosthunters.

It is, therefore, .an object .of my invention to provide .a vgamecarrierwhichris light in weight and small in size and the elements of which canbe readily disassembled to permit them to be carried in a relativelysmall package by the-hunterin order that it :may be easy for the hunterto pack the game carrier to=remote areas where game can .readily-be.found.

.An additional object .of my invention is the provision vofagame-carrier which, because of therelatively small .number of componentparts thereof, is quite low in cost .and whichcanbeeasilyassembled anddisassembled with- .out the useoftools or.other implements.

.A furtherobject .of my invention is the provision of va,game.carrierof'the aforementioned character wherein there is provided a unitaryyoke, said yoke having means for mounting. a'-whee1. supporting axlethereupon and being ,provided with fastener means adapted to receive'the ends of temporary poles cut :from saplings or the like, whereby:the game=can bexsupported on 'the poles or saplings, said :poles -orsaplings having .their lower extremities secured :torthe tyoke'bymeansof the fasteningmeans.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a game-carriero'f'thea'forementionedtype wherein the uni- -tary yoke structure isprovided with receptacles for the reception ofthe lower-extremities ofpoles for supporting the game and wherein the fastening'meansare'disposed adjacent said receptacles to urge the lower extremities ofsaid poles into operative relationship therewith.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will 'be apparent from thefollowing specification and the accompanying drawingswhich are forthepurposeof illustration only and inwhich: K

Fig. l is a perspective viewshowingone embodiment of the, game carrierof my invention utilized in conjunction withpoles cut from saplings orthe like-to support-and carry the carcass of an animal;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, side-elevational view oflt he-embodiment of theinvention shown in Fig. 1; V

Fig.3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional viewtaken on the brokenline 3-3 of Fig. 2; K

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the game carrierof my invention;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view-taken on the brokenline 5-5 of Fig. .4;

Fig. 6 is .a top plan viewof aportion of thegame carrier shown in Fig.4; V

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary view illustrating the manner in whichthe axle of the game carrieris demountablyassociated therewith;

Fig. 8 is a perspective viewof yet another-embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 9 is atop plan view thereof; a I Fig. 10 is a'partially sectionalview .taken" on the broken line 10-10 of Fig. 9; and I Fig. 11 is afront elevational view showing the manner in whichdismounted componentsof thegame-carriersan be assembled for packing-in by the hunter.

Referring to the drawings and particularly-to Figs. 1-3 thereof, I showa game carrier 10 constructed -in-accord- .ance with the teachings of myinvention and including a v unitary, substantiallyU-shaped yoke 12formed by -nreans of casting or the like and having oppositely disposed,spaced legs 14 and 16. Formed integrally withthe-spaced legs 14 and 16are .downwardlyprojecting bosses .18 and .20 which are provided withconcentric'bores 22 and :24 for thereception of a transversely orientedaxle 26;

The opposite extremities of the axle .26 have securement nuts 28 mountedthereupon adjacent the sides of the .bosses 18 and '20 for maintainingthe axle 26 inoperative-relationship with the yoke 12 and, moreparticularly, .with the legs 14 and 16 of said yoke. As .will beillustrated in considering other embodiments of myinvention, the nuts'28 can'be eliminated and readily demountable-spring clipssubstitutedtherefor to facilitate the ease of .assembly and disassemblyof the various components of the game carrier 10. V

Formed in the upper surfaces of the legs 14 and 16, as best illustratedin Fig. 3 of the drawings, are V-shaped receptacles or depressions S0and disposed in contiguity to said receptacles are fastening means 32.Thefastening means are constitutedby U-bolts 34, the legs of which, asbest shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, .are received in bores 36 formedin the legs 14 and 16 of the .U-shaped yoke 12.

Secured to the lower extremities of the legs of the U- bolts 34 are nuts38 which fasten the U-bolts securely in operative relationship with theyoke 12. Mounted in the space between the legs 14 and 16 of the yoke 12and supported for rotation on the axle 26 is a rubber-tired wheel 40adapted to engage thesurface of the ground, indicated at 42, whenthe'entire game carrier 10 is assembled.

Therefore, when a hunter desires to pack the game carrier into-huntingterritory, he need merely disassemble the axle 26 and wheel 40 fromoperativerelationshipiwith the yoke 12 and thus the wheel 40 and theyoke 12 can be assembled into a very small, light package which willnotunduly burden the hunter during his search for game. Once the game hasbeen shot, it is a simple matter for the hunter to re-assemble thev axle26 in operativerelationship with the yoke 12 by merely inserting theopposite .extremities of the axle 26 through the bores '22 and 24.1fmthe buses 18 and 20, respectively, on the yoke "'12 and bysimultaneoiisly locating the ground contacting wheel 40 in the spacebetween the legs 14 and 16 of said yoke.

At this time, the hunter can cut a pair of saplings of the desiredlength, as indicated at 39 in the drawing, and

-insert one extremity of each of the saplings in the U-bolts 34. Thelower extremities of the saplings 39 will be receiv edI in thereceptacles 30 provided in the upper surfaces of'the legs 14 and 16 andthe U-bolts 34 can then be tightened by tightening the nuts 38 on thelower extremities of the legs thereof.

The tightening of the U-bo1ts 34 forces the lower extremities of thepoles or saplings 39 into operative rela tionship with the receptacles30 and thus locks the poles against displacement from said receptaclesand operative relationship with the yoke 12. The carcass can then betied across the poles or saplings 39, as illustrated in Fig. l

'of the drawings, and the upper extremities of the poles or saplings 39can then be grasped by the hunter so that he can pull or push thecarcass on the game carrier to the nearest road where transportation isavailable.

After the game carrier has served its purpose, the

' saplings or poles 39 can be dismounted from operative relationshiptherewith, the wheel 40 and the axle 26 can be dismounted from the yoke12 and the entire game carrier can be re-packed to its relatively smallpackage condition.

' Shown in Figs. 4 through 7 of the drawings, is an alternativeembodiment 43 of the game carrier of my invention, said game carrierincluding a U-shaped yoke 44 which is formed from V-shaped channel stock45 and thus defines a continuous receptacle 46 in the upper surface ofthe yoke 44.

' Secured to the underside of the legs 48 and 50 of the yoke 44 aredepending lugs 51 which are provided with coincident bores 52 for thereception of opposite extremconstituted by U-bolts 68, the lowerextremities of whose legs engage a transverse plate 70 underlying thelegs 40 and 50 of the yoke 44, said extremities of said legs beingfastened in operative relationship with said plate by 'wing nuts 72.

Therefore, when it is desired to assemble the game carrier 43, thefastening means 66 constituted by the U-bolts 68 are disposed inoperative relationship with the legs 48 and 50 of the yoke 44, the axle54 is then located in the a I here of the wheel 56 and the coincidentbores 52 in the lugs 51 and the spring clips 60 are then snapped intothe slots 62 in the opposite extremities of the axle 54, it beingunderstood that the spacers 58 are mounted on the opposite sides of thewheel 56 and upon the axle 54.

The lower extremities of poles 74 are then located in the'receptacles 46constituted by the upwardly opening portions of the channel-shaped stock45 and the fastening v means constituted by the U bolts 68 are tightenedthereupon by rotation of the wing nuts 72 which urge the lower extremityof the poles or saplings 74 into the receptacles 46 and lock themsecurely against displacement therefrom. f It will be noted at thisjuncture that the provision of the receptacles 30 and 46 in the yokes 12and 44 of the game carriers 10 and 43, respectively, insures uniform:contact of the lower extremities of the poles or saplings --mounted insaid receptacles with the legs of the yokes and "thus provides a securefoundation therefor which prevents the spreading of the upperextremities of the poles "olf' saplings and thus permits the carcass ofthe game to be'securely affixed or attached thereto without the danger 4that the poles may twist and bend in a manner which would render itdiificult to maneuver the game carrier.

It is readily apparent that the game carrier 43 can be dis-assembled bythe release of the spring clips 64 in operative relationship with theslots 62 in the opposite extremities of the axle 54 permitting thedismounting of the Wheel 56 and the spacers 58 therefor. The rotation ofthe wing nuts 72 in the appropriate direction releases the U bolts 66and permits the removal of the lower extremities of the poles orsaplings 74 from operative relationship with the legs 48 and 50 of theyoke 44 and with the receptacles 46 provided on the upper surfacesthereof.

Another embodiment of the game carrier of my in- .vention is shown inFigs. 8-10 of the drawings, said game carrier including a cast aluminumyoke 82 which is substantially U-shaped in configuration, and whichincludes spaced legs 84 and 86 defining an opening for the reception ofa rubber-tired wheel 88.

Formed on the undersides of the legs 84 and 86 are depending bosseswhich mount the opposite extremities of an axle 92, said axle beingadapted to support the wheel 88 and having its opposite extremitiesmaintained in operative relationship with the bosses 90 by means of nuts94. Of course, spring clips 60 can be utilized in substitution for thenuts 94 if slots 62 are formed in the extremities of the axle 92 in thesame manner as they are formed in the extremities of the axle 54.

The base of the yoke 82 has a transversely oriented bar 96 formedintegrally therewith, said bar having downwardly opening, semi-circularreceptacles 98 provided in the opposite extremities thereof. The outerextremities of the legs 84 and 86 are provided with right-angularlyoriented portions 102 in which are formed V-shaped receptacles 104 whichopen upwardly and which are adapted to co-operate with the receptacles98 in properly "locating and supporting poles or saplings 106 in thedesired manner.

Formed integrally with the transversely oriented bar 96 is a boss 108,said boss being provided with a vertically oriented bore 110 for thereception of the shank of a bolt 112 upon the lower extremity of whichis mounted a transversely oriented locking bar 114 having curvilinearextremities 116 adapted to force the poles 106 upwardly into thereceptacles 98 when a wing nut 118, threaded upon the upper extremity ofthe bolt 112, is rotated to draw the shank of the bolt 112 upwardly andthus to carry the locking bar 114 upwardly against the poles 106. Thus,the locking bar 114, the bolt 112, the wing nut 118, and the associatedsemi-circular receptacles 98 serve as the equivalent of the fasteningmeans of the previously discussed embodiments of the invention.

It will be noted that the inverted, semi-circular receptacles 98 arespaced a greater distance apart than the upwardly opening, V-shapedreceptacles 104 provided in the portions 102 on the legs 84 and 86 ofthe yoke 82. It is obvious, therefore, that the wider spacing of theinverted receptacles 98, as contrasted with the relatively limitedspacing of the upwardly opening receptacles 102, causes the poles orsaplings 106 located in said receptacles to be splayed outwardly in themanner shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings and to be retained in thepositions shown in order that a much wider base is provided by the poles106 for game secured thereupon.

Moreover, the inversion of the receptacles 98 prevents upward movementof the poles 106 and the up wardly opening receptacles 104 preventdownward movement and racking of said poles when the poles 106 aresecured in operative relationship in said receptacles by means of thelocking bar'114. Furthermore, the receptacles 98 and 104 are displacedvertically with respect to each other, as graphically illustrated inFig. 10 of the drawings, so that, when the poles 106 are maintained inoperative relationship with the receptacles 98 and 104, they aredisposed at a relatively low angle to the horizontal, as bestillustrated in Fig. 10 of the drawings, so that it is not necessary forthe hunter to raise the poles 106 substantially in order that thecarcass disposed thereupon may be readily transported to accessibletransportation.

Slots 126 are provided in the legs 84 and 86 of the yoke 82 and, as bestshown in Fig. of the drawings, when the yoke 82 is dismounted from theaxle 92, said yoke can be laid on the side of the wheel 88 with the bolt112 substituted for the axle 92 in the wheel. The locking bar 114 isthen fitted through the slots 126 and the wing nut 118 threaded on theprojecting extremity of the bolt 112 to hold the assembly in place. Thehunter can put the axle 92 in his pocket and, in this manner, a verysmall package is created which can be easily carried by the hunter.

I thus provide by my invention a game carrier which is characterized bysimplicity in construction, its lightness in weight, and ease with whichit can be assembled and disassembled for utilization in carrying thecarcasses of heavy game. Of considerable importance is the fact that therelatively few component parts permit the game carrier to be carried ina relatively small package which does not unduly hinder the hunter inhis search for game and which permits him to have available at all timesfor use a game carrier which will permit the utilization of readilyavailable saplings or poles to transport the game from the place atwhich it is shot to the nearest means of transportation.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a game carrier, the combination of: a yoke having a substantiallyU-shaped portion having spaced, axially extending legs provided withparts having a first pair of pole receiving receptacles therein, saidyoke having a second pair of receptacles disposed in spaced relationshipwith said first pair, said legs having axle receiving bores adjacentsaid second pair of receptacles; an axle in said bores; a wheel mountedon said axle; and a single fastening means extending transversely onsaid yoke for forcing said poles into said receptacles and formaintaining them in operative relationship therewith.

2. In a game carrier, the combination of: a yoke having a substantiallyU-shaped portion having spaced, axially extending legs provided withparts having a first pair of pole receiving receptacles therein, saidyoke having a second pair of receptacles disposed in spaced relationshipwith said first pair, the receptacles in said second pair being morewidely spaced than the receptacles in the first pair of splay polesmounted therein outwardly, said legs having axle-receiving boresadjacent said second pair of receptacles; an axle in said bores; a wheelmounted on said axle; and a single fastening means on said yoke adjacentsaid one pair of receptacles for forcing said poles into saidreceptacles and for maintaining them in operative relationshiptherewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,678,353 Reach July 24, 1928 2,425,935 Hayman Aug. 19,1947 2,742,300Carver Apr. 17, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 745,875 France Feb. 27, 1933 3,080Great Britain of 1907 290,528 Italy NOV. 21, 1931

